In southern Greece, there is a current greenhouse project taking place, spearheaded by Richel Group, in collaboration with a major local cherry tomato grower. George Antonie, Project Manager for the Balkan region at Richel Group, shares that this 20,000-square-meter high-tech greenhouse is not the biggest project he oversees in the Balkans (Romania still leads in scale), but that Greece is catching up quickly. "This particular initiative is a trial, almost two hectares, but we've integrated many new technologies that we've developed recently."
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A tailored approach for a demanding climate
Unlike Richel's projects in colder regions such as Romania, this greenhouse in Greece faces a different challenge: heat. While Romanian greenhouses rely on double-inflated walls to insulate crops during frigid winters, the Greek installation must prioritize cooling systems to withstand scorching summers.
"In Greece, the challenge is cooling, so we install large fans to extract the heat. In Romania, it's the opposite - we heat the greenhouses with big pipes," George explains. "It cannot be compared one-on-one. It's a completely different technology."
The unique layout of the greenhouse reflects the client's specific production model. According to him, the facility consists of two main production zones with a central technical corridor and an adjacent technical hall, all within a unified structure - an uncommon but highly customized design.
"The customer requested 10 meters between all structural posts in the rows, which is much wider than our standard 2–3 meters. It was complex, but we delivered. We used 34 ten-meter beams in total for the technical hall."
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Innovation in structure and energy
Perhaps the most striking feature of this project is its integration with a substantial cogeneration power source. The client, a major cherry tomato producer with around 40 hectares of greenhouse operations across Greece, possesses approximately 18 megawatts of cogeneration power - a rare setup in the region due to its cost and complexity.
"Only a few of our clients use this kind of power. Instead of a normal buffer, we connect directly to his power plant. It's efficient and supports high-performance systems," George mentions.
The greenhouse also features enhanced ventilation, including an extra vent raiser on the rooftop to support air circulation and regulate internal temperatures during peak summer.
From pilot to scalable future
This project, developed in collaboration with Greentech, is intended as a testbed for future innovation. In a recent announcement, Greentech described the site as "a major step forward in building more intelligent and resilient food production systems."
The project, while still under construction, is expected to be completed by the end of the year - a tight deadline made tighter by a delayed start.
"We delivered materials last year, but the customer only began building three months ago. He's now pushing to finish everything before the end of the year," George notes.
Looking ahead, Richel Group has its sights on larger expansions with the same client, including potential 30-hectare developments. George hints at exciting growth opportunities across the Balkans.
"We are in talks for major contracts in Romania that could have a huge impact on the region. But it's too early to disclose details - we're still signing agreements."
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Local knowledge, global vision
A native of Romania and deeply familiar with the Balkan agricultural landscape, he emphasizes the importance of understanding local conditions.
"Before we design anything, we assess everything: snow loads, wind loads, proximity to the sea. You must know the climate intimately," he says. "In Romania, 95% of cherry tomatoes are imported. We're a huge consumer market, so domestic greenhouse production is a strategic focus."
Asked about future products and services, he refers to Richel Group's flexible model, offering everything from structure-only builds to turnkey solutions with integrated climate control.
"It depends on what the customer needs. In some cases, we provide a full turnkey solution. In others, like this one, the client manages certain systems himself."
The tomato-fueled passion
Despite the technical complexity of his role, George's passion for tomatoes and their cultural importance comes through with a smile.
"In Romania, if you don't know what to eat, you eat a tomato. Maybe with some cheese. It's part of our daily life."
For more information:
Richel Group
Quartier de la gare
13810 Eygalieres, France
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 90 95 14 68
Email: info@richel.fr
www.richel-group.com